Firebrand singer Louise Distras has released her new single, ‘Poor Man’, the second track to be taken from her upcoming EP, Street Revolution, out January 11th.

The song was originally written nearly ninety years ago but is now reimagined for a new generation, providing an acute commentary on the breakdown of modern society yet still retaining its cultural relevance and poignant impact.

“This song was written through the eyes of Blind Alfred Reed amongst the abject poverty of 1929,” says Louise. “Around the same time Billie Holiday sang ‘Strange Fruit’ which was written in similar conditions that still apply to the world today, making both songs timeless classics.”

A testament to its longevity; the track has previously been covered and re-interpreted by artists including Bruce Springsteen, Ry Cooder and UB40.

The video for ‘Poor Man’ sees a minimalist aesthetic convey the track’s powerful rhetoric with brute sincerity. It’s both a reflective assessment on aspects of society that haven’t changed in nearly a century, as well posing a question as to why this is still the case.

Louise explains, “Every shoot for this video was ruined by rain so in the end we simply filmed it with an iPhone on the bus to the dole office. It seemed to fit the song perfectly.”